Security etc

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Security and Confidentiality

Security and confidentiality are naturally very important to some clients who may be considering the use of eFocusgroups.  First the easy one - security:

eFocusgroups are as secure as most web-based applications, and more secure than most.  All the data is held on a server which is part of a professionally hosted server farm.  The appointed emoderator has access to the webconsole via a secure user name and password.  Currently if other people need to be given access then they use the same username and password.  Passwords can be changed at any time.  Unauthorised access is therefore difficult, but not impossible if for instance a determined hacker wished to gain access to your organisation's data.  If the utmost security is important to you, we can offer the product 'boxed' to run on your own internal network, at extra cost.
Confidentiality, on the other hand is only as good as your own management.  Since all of the discussion takes place via email, it becomes a management issue as to how proliferation of that email is controlled.  The system ensures that no-one outside authorised individuals can post and receive group emails (but of course there is nothing to stop an individual forwarding emails to unauthorised others (in the same way as could happen with information from a physical focus group)

Another important aspect of confidentiality is available to eFocusgroup users, in a way that is not normally acceptable in a physical focus group.  Members of the panel can choose to hide their identity from other members.  We would not normally recommend this option as the idea of the eFocusgroup is that full and open discussions take place between members rather than towards the emoderator.  However, there is an option for the eModerator to allow one or more individuals to operate incognito.

We would advise any consultant using the eFocusgroups technology to operate confidentiality procedures as laid down by the Market Research Society.  Their latest draft guidelines can be viewed here

If you have any other queries about confidentiality or security issues please email us here

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